704 



suit in tlie captiire of the destroyer, particiilnily if it 

 be a raptorial bird. 



Hawks and some oilier birds of prey can be easily 

 caught by setting a steel trap on the top of a tree 

 stump or pole and placing a bait under the trap. A 

 Mouse, small bird, or chicken can be used. Some- 

 times a live chicken or pigeon tied near the pole or 

 stump on wliich the trap rests is used to lure the 

 Hawk or Owl, which often will fly to the elevated 

 perch before swooping down upon it. The detrimen- 

 tal species of Hawks are not as apt to be caught by 

 steel traps with live bait as are the beneficial species; 

 especially tlie Red-tail species. Steel traps set in 

 grass fields or meadows slightly covered with grass 

 and weeds, and baited with dead mice or English 

 Sparrows tied to the ])an, often serve as attractive 

 baits to catch Hawks and Owls. 



The Cooper's Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk and Gos- 

 hawk, are the three species in this State which are a 

 scourge to the poultry yard. They all, as well as the 

 Duck Hawk, it is said, can be destroyed by the "plank 

 and wire" Hawk trap, a Yankee invention that is 

 easily constructed. It consists of a piece of plank 

 two and a half to thiee feet square, set with stiff and 

 sharp-pointed perpendicular wires each about eighteen 

 inches to two feet long. This is placed on the ground 

 in a conspicuous place and the i)lank is covered with 

 grass and dirt, or, in winter, with snow (if ground is 

 covered with snow') and a live chicken or pigeon is se- 

 cured to the centre. The Hawk seeing this pounces 

 down to be impaled on the sharp-pointed upwright 

 wires. The Great Horned Owl, Barred Owl, Snowy 

 Owl, and Eagles have, it is said, been successfully cap 

 tui'ed bv this contrivance. 



